Tool handle



c. JORGENSEN 2 2 3 1 TOOL HANDLE Filed May 1, 1939 INVENTOR.

Chrisl .luggensen,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 4-, 1941 UNITED STATES ra'rsnr Price 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to tools and more particularly to improvements in tool handles or holders.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved tool handle or holder of a construction to interchangeably receive a multiplicity of difierent tool elements or other implements and thus eliminate a number of unnecessary handles as now required in sets of tools wherein each tool is provided with a handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool handle for files, taps, screw driver bits and other tools whereby the weight and space required for a set of tools will be materially reduced.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a tool handle of simple construction and yet providing for a rigid grip being had upon the tool or other implement held thereby.

A still further object is to provide a tool handle of this character which is of extremely strong and durable construction, and which may be economically constructed.

A still further object resides in the novel and specific jaw formation providing for a two point gripping of the tool.

Other objects and advantages of the invenso tion will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tool handle and showing in dot and dash lines a tap held thereby.

Figure 2 is a view part in elevation and part in longitudinal section and showing in dot and dash lines a double screw driver bit held in the handle.

Figure 3 is a view part in elevation and part in longitudinal section thru the todl at a right angle to the showing in Figure 2.

7 Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged transverse sec- 4 tions on the respective lines in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a side plan view of the jaw member of the tool in its normal expanded condition.

Referring to the drawing in detail and wherein like reference characters designate corre- 501' sponding parts thruout the several views, the improved tool handle comprises a chuck sleeve member A, a jaw member B, and a feed member C co -acting with the sleeve member A for feeding the jaw member B into the sleeve member.

The tubular sleeve member A is internally screw threaded for a portion of its length from the inner or rear end of the sleeve as at 8, and at the outer end of the thread the bore of the sleeve is slightly enlarged as at 9. The forward or outer end of the sleeve is tapered into hollow frusto conical formation as at IU, providing an annular tapering internal jaw seat I I.

Referring now to the members B and C, these members are each preferably formed from lengths of half round stock and so shaped as to provide a convenient and comfortable hand grip which will not slip or turn in the hand of the user. These fork-like handle members B and C have a separable interfitting engagement with one another whereby the members are retained in planes in right angular relation when assembled with the sleeve member A.

The jaw member B is preferably made from spring steel and is formed with a pair of arm portions l2 connected at their rear ends by a head portion l3 having a rearwardly opening depression l4 midway between its ends. As clearly shown in Figure 5, the flat sides of the arms l2 are disposed inward of the jaw member in confronting relation and the rounded outer surface of the arms outward of the jaw member. The forward end portions of the arms I2 are bowed outwardly in arcs as at [5 and terminate at their free ends in co-acting jaws I6 having their confronting faces grooved longitudinally of the arms as at ll. From the bowed arm portions l5, the arms are bowed inwardly or toward one another to form grip portions l8 having their flat confronting faces grooved longitudinally of the arms as at l9. From the bowed portions IS, the arms extend in diverging relation as at 26 into the slightly curved hand grasping portions of the arms.

As shown particularly in Figures 2 and 6, the rounded outer surfaces of the jaws l6 converge toward the free ends of the jaws and provide substantially conical bearing surfaces for acting upon the tapering jaw seat I I whereby as the arms are moved axially of the sleeve A, the jaws will have relative movement toward and away from one another. By observing Figure 2, it will be seen that as the sleeve A is moved axially rearward over the arms l2, the diverging arm portions 2!) thru contact with the rear edge of the sleeve will cause the grip portions l8 to be moved toward one another. The spring tension on the arms l2 of the jaw member B is such that the free ends of the arms are normally spread apart for a distance a little greater than the internal diameter of the sleeve A whereby when the arms are received in the sleeve, they will be spring urged into contact with the sleeve. The bowed portions 15 will contact diametrically opposite points at the forward end of the sleeve, While the diverging arm portions 20 will contact diametrically opposite points at the rear end of the sleeve. Thus. the oppositely bowed portions l and i8 form a reverse or S-shaped curve at the forward ends of the arms [2 which co-act to provide two spaced apart gripping portions for the tool element when placed between the arms of the jaw member.

Referring now to the feed member C, the same may be formed from a length of half round steel or iron and comprises a pair of arm portions 22 connected at their rear ends by a U-shaped loop 23 which straddles the head portion l3 of the arms l2 and snugly seats in the rearwardly opening depression H as clearly shown in Figure 2. The arms 22 have their fiat surfaces in confronting relation, and the forward ends of the arms are straight to form parallel spaced apart arm portions 24 having their flat confronting faces 25 disposed in parallel planes. The outer arcuate surfaces of the straight arm portions 24 are formed with screw threads 26 which have threaded engagement with the internal screw threads 8 of the sleeve A. The intermediate portion of the arms 22 may be bowed outwardly to form curved hand grasping portions having a spacing substantially equal to the spacing between the curved hand grasping portions of the arms i2 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. As will also be observed particularly in Figures 4 and 5, the members B and C are in planes in right angular relation.

In placing a tool or the like in the handle, the shank of the tool may be inserted between the forward ends of the arms l2 to rest in the grooves l1 and IS. The sleeve A may then be rotated for feeding the sleeve rearward on the parallel arm portions 24 by means of the threads 8 and 26. As the feed member C is drawn into the sleeve A, the loop 23 thru its straddled relation over the head I3 of the jaw member B, will cause the arms i2 to be drawn into the sleeve along with the feed member. This axial movement of the sleeve A acts to contract the jaws l6 thru the action of the bowed portions l5 engaging the jaw seat H at the forward end of the sleeve, and at the same time acts to contract the bowed portions l8 thru the action of the diverging arm portions 20 engaging the rear end of the sleeve. Thus, the tool shank will be gripped at two points along its length, in the grooves H and I9.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the bowed arm portions I8 extend between the flat confronting surfaces 25 of the parallel threaded arm portions 24 whereby the threads 26 are held in threading relation to the sleeve threads 8. The side edges of the forward portions of the arms I2 are preferably ground off slightly to form better bearing surfaces for contact with the arm portions 24. By having the arms l2 engage the sleeve at opposite ends of the sleeve, aside from providing for a two point grip, also serves to prevent any lateral tipping of the sleeve in a direction in the major plane of the jaw member B.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described, Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tool handle comprising an internally threaded sleeve, a jaw member having arms formed with reverse curves coacting with opposite ends of the sleeve and providing spaced apart grip portions, and a feed member having threaded arms straddling the reverse curves and threaded into the sleeve for moving the jaw member into the sleeve for contracting said grip portions upon a tool element.

2. A tool handle comprising an internally threaded sleeve having a tapering jaw seat at its forward end, a fork-like jaw member having a head and spaced apart arms, said arms having opposite and reverse curved ends fitting in the sleeve and forming jaws co-acting with said seat and diverging arm portions co-acting with the rear end of the sleeve, and a fork-like feed member having a loop at its closed end straddling said head and spaced apart straight arms straddling said reverse curved ends, said straight arms being threaded for threaded engagement with the threads in the sleeve.

3. A tool handle comprising a tubular chuck sleeve having an internally threaded rear portion and a tapering jaw seat at its forward end, and a pair of separable fork-like handle forming members providing a jaw member and a feed member, said jaw member having a rearwardly opening depression in its closed end and having reverse curved arm portions extending into said sleeve, and said feed member having a U loop in its closed end fitting in said depression and having parallel arm portions having threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the sleeve for feeding the jaw member forwardly in the sleeve.

4. A tool handle comprising an internally threaded chuck sleeve, a jaw member having a pair of arms formed with outwardly bowed end portions for co-acting with the forward end of the sleeve and diverging arm portions for c0 acting with the rear end of the sleeve, and a feed member having threaded engagement in the sleeve and acting to feed the jaw member into the sleeve for clampingla tool element between the arms of the jaw member.

5. A tool handle comprising an internally threaded sleeve, a jaw member comprising a single length of material looped into fork shape and having reverse curved arm portions disposed within the sleeve, and a feed member comprising a single length of material looped into fork shape and having straight threaded arm portions threaded into the sleeve, said feed member serving to move the jaw member into the sleeve.

6. A three piece metal tool handle comprising a chuck sleeve having an internally threaded rear portion and a tapered jaw seat at its forward end, a fork-like jaw member of half round metal rod looped with the flat surface inward providing a pair of jaw arms extending into the sleeve and having outwardly bowed end portions co-acting with said seat, and a fork-like feed member of half round metal rod looped with the flat surface inward providing a pair of straight arm portions having threads on their rounded outer surfaces engaging the threads in the sleeve, the closed ends of the fork-like members having interfitting engagement whereby the feed member acts to feed the jaw member into the sleeve upon rotation of the sleeve.

CHRIST JORGENSEN. 

